The presence of positively and negatively charged particlesactivating the body and mind enables us to live in this world, but nature'swonders do not stop there. Man has devised a method to split the atom and releasenuclear energy. In the same way he can also release a greater quantum of energywithin his own being. In ancient days rishis used their knowledge of theprinciples of nature to boost the pranic energy in order to accelerate theevolution of human consciousness. The only difference between modern andancient methods of producing energy is that one utilizes external sources andthe other internal. The pranic network within the body operates on much thesame basis as the energy system in nuclear, hydraulic and thermal powerstations. The pressure of rapidly flowing water or rising steam rotatesturbines which generate electricity. This action can create a powerful magneticfield that can be collected and stored in accumulators.

Similarly, yogis describe how the pranic field within thebody is charged by respiration. The process of respiration thus generatesenergy. This energy can then be directed into certain pranic accumulators,known as chakras, for storage. From the electrical power station, the energy issent to substations through special high voltage wire cabling. Once it hasreached this stage of processing, it is passed through transformers whichreduce the voltage so that it is useful for specific purposes. The sameprinciple applies to the physical body, only here the high voltage channels forconduction of energy are not wire cables, they are nadis.

The nadi network

The physical body is structured by an underlying system ofnadis. In recent times the nadi system has been associated with the nervoussystem. However, references in the Chhandogya and Brihadaranyaka Upanishadsclearly state that nadis are entirely subtle in nature. The word nadi comesfrom the Sanskrit root nada, which means flow. Nada is a resonating and subtlevibration. Therefore, nadis are subtle flows of vibration. The Upanishadsexplain that the nadis penetrate the body from the soles of the feet to thecrown of the head, carrying prana, the breath of life. The atman is the sourceof Shakti and the animator of all the worlds. The entire network of nadis is sovast that even yogic texts differ in their calculation of the exact number.References in the Goraksha Sataka or Samhita and Hatha Yoga Pradipika placetheir number at 72,000; the Prapanchasara Tantra says 300,000; while the ShivaSamhita states that 350,000 emerge from the navel centre. Regardless of theexact figure, the description of their structure is always the same - thinstrand-like threads, similar to those of the lotus stem, which emanate from thespinal column. Scientific research has been carried out to determine what andwhere nadis are.

The major nadis

In any electrical circuit, three specific wires are requiredfor conduction - one positive, one negative and one neutral. Likewise, withinthe body there are three specific nadis for conducting energy. In yoga we referto the negative line as ida, the channel of manas shakti or mental force. Thepositive line is pingala, which channels the dynamic energy of prana shakti. Inorder to avoid short-circuiting of these lines there is a third channel,sushumna, which functions as an earth wire, The Shiva Swarodaya names ten majornadis which connect to the 'doorways' leading in and out of the body. Of theseten, ida, pingala and sushumna are most important. They are the high voltagewires which conduct the energy to the substations or chakras situated along thespinal column.

The seven lesser nadis are:Gandhari = connected to the left eye;Hasiijihva = connected to the right eye;Poosha = connected to the right ear;Yashaswini = connected to the left ear;Alambusha = connected to the mouth;Kuhu = connected to the reproductive organs;Shankhini = connected to the rectum.Other Upanishads talk about 14 to 19 significant nadis andinclude jihva, kurma, payaswini, Saraswati, saumya, shura, varuni, vilambha andvishvodari.

So for all practical purposes one need only concentrate onida, pingala and sushumna, as these three govern the whole system of the nadisand body processes.

Positive and negative aspect

It is necessary to understand that ida and pingala areopposite aspects of the one prana or shakti. At the macrocosmic level, mahaprana ranges from gross and tangible to subtle and intangible. Similarly, inthe body, microcosmic prana is polarized into ida and pingala, and these aresymbolized by the terms negative and positive. These terms are purelydescriptive and should not be confused with positive and negative ions or withpositive and negative states of mind. For example, the overall effect ofnegative ions in the body is said to be 'positive', whereas the positivesymbolism of pingala refers to the physical level of activation, and thenegative symbolism of ida refers to the mental level. Therefore, we have to becareful that we have a clear understanding of positive and negative energy whenwe talk about the nadis.

Ida pathway

Ida nadi, the negative channel, brings consciousness intoevery part of the body. The Shiva Swarodaya likens its nature to the energycreated by the moon; therefore, it is also known as the Chandra or lunar nadi.Ida is associated with the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), which sendsimpulses to the visceral organs to stimulate the internal processes. Thiscreates a general state of relaxation in the superficial muscles, thus loweringthe outer body temperature. Therefore, it is said that ida is cooling, relaxingand introverting. The pathway of ida differs from that of pingala. Ida originatesat a point just below the base of the spine where the first energy centre,known as mooladhara chakra, is located. It emerges from the left side ofmooladhara and spirals upwards, intersecting at the other four energy centresand plexuses in the spinal column, and comes to a point of termination at theroot of the left nostril, which joins ajna chakra, the sixth energy centre.Some texts describe ida as rising straight up from mool-adhara to ajna withoutintersecting at any junction. This could be taken to be symbolic of the factthat the energy fields of ida govern the left side of the spinal column and thewhole left half of the body. In this regard the analogy of the magnet is usefulin terms of describing positive and negative poles and their relativity. If wecut a magnet in half, either end of the magnet assumes opposite polarity.Similarly, in the body, organs on the right are polarized so that pingalagoverns the right side of the organ and ida the left. According to swara yoga,left nostril breathing influences the activities of manas Shakti, and indicatesthat introversion and mental creativity predominate so that any extremelydynamic or extrovert activity should be avoided. The swara yogi thusmanipulates the flow of air in the left nostril in order to control idadirectly and either bring about its influence at will or suppress it whennecessary.

Pingala pathway

Pingala is the transmitter of prana Shakti. It is thepositive aspect, also known as the Surya or solar nadi because its energy is asinvigorating as the sun's rays. Pingala energy activates the physical body andexternalizes awareness. It is associated with the sympathetic nervous system(SNS), which releases adrenaline to stimulate the superficial muscles. The SNSprepares the body to cope with stress and external activity; for example, itmakes the heart beat rapidly and heats the body. Therefore, it is said thatpingala is energizing, heating and extroverting. Pingala emerges on the righthand side of mooladhara, exactly opposite to ida. It spirals up the spinalcolumn, crossing ida at the four major energy centres, and terminates at theroot of the right nostril. Pingala governs the whole right side of the body. Tocontrol pingala the breath in the right nostril is manipulated.

Sushumna pathway

It is being rooted in mooladhara charka and terminating inthe Sahasrar chakra when it is in its dormant state. But the real purpose ofsushumna is to provide a channel for the spiritual energy, which is a greaterforce than either manas or prana Shakti. For this reason the yogis developedparticular techniques to activate sushumna. Of all the thousands of nadis,sushumna is said to be the most important. Little is said about the nature orfunction of these nadis in swara yoga.

Swar yoga

The act of breathing is called Swara. The Sanskrit wordSwara means the sound of one's own breath. Yoga means union. Therefore,Swarayoga is the union of different vibrations of breath that alter ourpsycho-physiological activity. It is a systematic practice of the observationof the breath flow through the nostrils in relation to the time of day, theposition of the moon, sun, planets, seasons and the play of five basic elementsearth, water, fire, air and space with the physical, mental and emotional conditionsof the practising individual. Swara breathing is a process, which can bemanipulated and controlled whenever you want to. It helps us to understand howto maximise our potential, control moods, heal ailments and be attuned to thecosmic rhythm.

There are three main Swaras. These are known as Chander Swar(Ida Naddi), Surya Swar (Pingala Naddi), Shoonya Swar (Sushumna Naddi). Thesethree Naddis operate alternately for certain duration of time because the flowof breath changes every hour.

Chander Swar or Ida nadi

The left nostril is called Chander Swar & is connectedto the Ida network of Naddis. The word Naddi literally means 'flow' or'current’. These Naddis are creative energy channels of conscious energy. IdaNaddi is ruled by the Moon & is associated with mental activities,parasympathetic nervous system and relaxation. Ida Naddi, which is thefeminine, is associated with the right hemisphere of the brain and controls theleft side of the body. When Ida is flowing, the breath will be more in the leftnostril. It indicates that the mental energy is dominant. The mind is passive,cool, introverted and any kind of mental work can be undertaken. It is likenectar and gives strength and nourishment to the soul and the body.

Surya Swara or Pingala nadi

The right nostril is called Surya Swar and is connected tothe Pingala network of Naddis. Pingala Naddi is ruled by the Sun & isassociated with Pranic activities (physical activities), sympathetic nervoussystem and stress. Pingala Naddi, which is the masculine, is associated withthe left hemisphere of the brain and controls the right side of the body. WhenPingala is flowing, the breath will be more in the right nostril. It indicatesthat the vital energy is dominant. The mind is active, extroverted, & anykind of physical work can be undertaken. It is responsible for the growth ofthe body.

Shoonya Swara or Sushumna nadi

When Ida and Pingala Naddis flow together then the mainchannel The Third Swara or Shoonya Swara is stimulated. It is called SushumnaNaddi. It is located at the base of the spine & it travels directly upthrough the spinal cord. Sushumna unites both Ida & Pingala at the eyebrowcentre in the region of medulla oblongata. When both nostrils flow together,both hemispheres operate in unison. The physical organs & mental organsfunction simultaneously & it indicates that the mind is blissful, calm,pure, balanced & the spiritual energy is in power & time is good forconcentration, meditation, and worship. In subtle body terms the Sushumna Naddiis the path to enlightenment.

Principle of flow of the swara

The first 14 days from the new moon to the full moon iscalled bright fortnight. On the 15th tithi (date) the moon is full, this iscalled Poornima. The next 14 days between the full moon to the new moon iscalled darker fortnight. On the 15th tithi (date) there is no moon & thisis called Amavasya.

In Swara cycle, during bright fortnight (Poornima) ChandraNaddi (Ida) becomes active at sunrise on days 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15.Throughout the day Ida & Pingala function alternately in 60-90 minutescycles. At sunset, Surya Naddi begins to function on the same days. On days, 4,5, 6,10,11,12 the Surya Naddi flows at sunrise and Chadnra Naddi at sunset.

During darker fortnight (Amavasya) Surya Naddi (Pingala)becomes active at sunrise on days 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, 30.Throughout the day Pingala & Ida, function alternately in 60-90 minutescycles. At sunset, Chandra Nadi begins to function on the same days. On days,19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27 the Chandra Naddi flows at sunrise and Surya Naddi atsunset. It goes on up to full moon.

Right and left hemispheres of the brain

1. The specific functions of the cerebral region of thebrain also correlate with the activities of ida and pingala. The cerebrum issymmetrical, consisting of the right and left hemispheres. The right hemispheregoverns the left side of the body and the left hemisphere governs the rightside of the body. Ida is connected to the right hemisphere and pingala to theleft. The right hemisphere processes information in a diffuse and wholisticmanner. It controls orientation in space and is particularly sensitive to thevibrational realm of existence and those experiences which are intangible tothe external sense receptors. Thus it is responsible for psychic andextrasensory perception, and stimulates creative, artistic and musicalabilities. Conversely, the left hemisphere in relation to pingala isresponsible for rational, analytical and mathematical ability. In the lefthemisphere, information is processed sequentially, linearly and logically.

2. In this way the hemispheres, in association with thenadis, control and motivate our responses in day to day life. Each hemisphereis also associated with the arousal of different emotions. Some neurologistshave described the right hemisphere as 'sad' and the left as 'happy'.

3. It has even been observed that a positive emotionalstimulus activates the left hemisphere and a negative emotional stimulusstimulates the right. Furthermore, left/right activities cause a person toreact in a particular manner under certain circumstances.

4. The left hemisphere has been noted to create anaggressive response or the 'fight' reaction, whereas the right hemispherecauses a person to withdraw and become a passive participant or to 'flee'.Neurologists have also found a correlation between male/ female responses andleft/right brain functions. It seems that women are liable to rely more onright hemisphere strategies than men, which verifies why they are considered tobe ida predominant. As far as science has probed, the difference in mentalcapacities is possibly related to different ratios of sex hormones affectingthe structure of the brain.

5. Whatever the physiological cause may be, it definitely correspondsto the fact that ida is considered the female principle and pingala the male.The tantric concept of Shiva/Shakti, the twin forces existing within eachindividual, can be seen in the structure of the brain and pranic body in termsof ida and pingala. It certainly substantiates the idea of a person having twominds, one positive and the other negative, and even the theory that there is amale and female side in everyone

Effects on physical , emotional and mental state

1. If Ida Naddi is flowing and there is physical work to bedone, it is possible to redirect the flow of the breath to Pingala Naddi toobtain the necessary energy. On the other hand, if study or mental work isrequired, one can redirect the flow of the breath to Ida Naddi to obtain thenecessary energy.

2. To cure the common cold, sinusitis, asthma, indigestion,block the left nostril & breathe through the right nostril 21 times. Alsosleeping on the left side gives relief as it activates the right nostril.

3. To cure acidity, hypertension, headache, stress, diabetesand fever, block the right nostril & breathe through the left nostril 21times. Also sleeping on the right side gives relief as it activates the leftnostril.